Sure, here are 20 extended long-answer ques ons based on Units 1 and 2 of your syllabus, along

with detailed explana ons and real-life examples:

Unit 1: Introduc on to Computer Networks

1. Explain how different network topologies impact data flow in a computer network with
real-world scenarios.

o Answer: Network topologies determine the layout and data flow within a network.

 Bus Topology: All devices share a single communica on line. Data collisions
are common, and the network is vulnerable to a single point of failure.

 Example: Early Ethernet networks used bus topology, where a single

cable connected all devices.

 Star Topology: Devices are connected to a central hub. If the hub fails, the
en re network is affected, but individual device failures do not impact the
network.

 Example: Home networks o en use star topology with a central

router.

 Ring Topology: Devices are connected in a circular fashion. Data travels in

one direc on, reducing collisions but making the network vulnerable to a
single point of failure.

 Example: Token Ring networks used in some office environments.

 Mesh Topology: Devices are interconnected, providing mul ple paths for
data. This increases reliability and redundancy but is complex and expensive
to implement.

 Example: Military communica on networks use mesh topology for

reliability.

 Hybrid Topology: Combines two or more topologies to leverage their

advantages.

 Example: A corporate network might use a combina on of star and

mesh topologies.

2. Discuss how the OSI model facilitates troubleshoo ng in mul -vendor network
environments.

o Answer: The OSI model standardizes network func ons into seven layers, making it
easier to isolate and troubleshoot issues.

 Example: If a network issue occurs, engineers can use the OSI model to
iden fy whether the problem is at the Physical layer (e.g., faulty cables), the
Data Link layer (e.g., MAC address conflicts), or higher layers (e.g.,
applica on errors).

3. Compare wired and wireless transmission media in terms of performance metrics relevant
to specific applica ons.
 o Answer:

 Wired Media: Generally offers higher speed, reliability, and security. Suitable
for applica ons requiring stable and high-speed connec ons, such as data
centers and office networks.

 Example: Fiber op c cables provide high-speed internet with

minimal signal loss.

 Wireless Media: Offers flexibility and mobility but is prone to interference

and security issues. Suitable for applica ons requiring mobility, such as
home networks and public Wi-Fi.

 Example: Wi-Fi networks allow devices to connect to the internet

without physical cables.

4. Describe how mul plexing techniques like FDM and TDM op mize bandwidth usage in
telecommunica ons.

o Answer:

 FDM (Frequency Division Mul plexing): Divides the channel into mul ple
frequency bands, each carrying a separate signal. This allows simultaneous
transmission of mul ple signals without interference.

 Example: Radio broadcas ng, where different sta ons transmit on

different frequencies.

 TDM (Time Division Mul plexing): Divides the channel into me slots, each
allocated to a different signal. This allows mul ple signals to share the same
channel by transmi ng in different me slots.

 Example: Telephone networks, where mul ple calls are transmi ed

over the same line by alloca ng different me slots to each call.

5. Illustrate with examples how hubs differ from switches in terms of network traffic
management.

o Answer:

 Hub: Broadcasts data to all devices in a network, leading to poten al

collisions and inefficiencies.

 Example: Used in small home networks to connect mul ple devices.

 Switch: Directs data to specific devices based on MAC addresses, reducing

collisions and improving network efficiency.

 Example: Used in office networks to manage traffic efficiently.

6. Explain error detec on using parity bits through an example involving data transmission
errors.

o Answer: Parity bits are added to data to ensure that the number of 1s is even (even
parity) or odd (odd parity). If the received data has the wrong parity, an error is
detected.
  Example: In an even parity system, if the data 1010 is sent, a parity bit of 0 is
added to make the total number of 1s even (10100). If the received data is
10101, an error is detected because the number of 1s is odd.

7. Discuss the role of routers in managing traffic between different IP networks using a case
study.

o Answer: Routers direct data packets between different IP networks, using rou ng
tables and protocols to determine the best path.

 Example: In a corporate network, a router connects the internal network to

the internet, direc ng traffic between internal devices and external servers.
It uses protocols like OSPF or BGP to manage traffic efficiently.

8. Provide a detailed explana on of Hamming code for error correc on with an example
scenario where it is used.

o Answer: Hamming code adds redundant bits to data to detect and correct single-bit
errors. The redundant bits are placed at posi ons that are powers of 2.

 Example: For a 4-bit data 1011, Hamming code adds 3 redundant bits to
make it 1011011. If a single-bit error occurs, the redundant bits help iden fy
and correct the error.

9. Analyze how bridges filter network traffic using MAC addresses by describing their func on
within a LAN setup.

o Answer: Bridges connect two or more network segments and filter traffic based on
MAC addresses. They forward data only to the segment where the des na on
device is located, reducing unnecessary traffic.

 Example: In a LAN with two segments, a bridge ensures that data intended
for a device in segment A is not sent to segment B, improving network
efficiency.

10. Elaborate on gateways’ role when interfacing different networking systems through
prac cal use cases.

o Answer: Gateways connect different networks and translate protocols between

them, enabling communica on between systems with different architectures.

 Example: A gateway connec ng a local network using Ethernet to the

internet using IP. It translates internal Ethernet frames to IP packets, allowing
devices on the local network to access external resources.

Unit 2: Data Link Layer

11. Describe the func ons of the data link layer in the OSI model with real-life examples.

o Answer: The data link layer is responsible for node-to-node data transfer, error
detec on and correc on, and framing.

 Example: Ethernet frames in a local network include error detec on codes

to ensure data integrity.
12. Explain the process of framing in the data link layer with an example.

o Answer: Framing involves dividing data into frames for transmission. Each frame
includes a header, payload, and trailer.

 Example: Ethernet frames have a header with source and des na on MAC
addresses, a payload with the data, and a trailer with error detec on codes.

13. Discuss error control techniques like Hamming code and CRC with examples.

o Answer:

 Hamming Code: Detects and corrects single-bit errors by adding redundant

bits to data.

 Example: Used in computer memory to correct single-bit errors.

 CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check): Detects errors in data transmission by

adding a checksum to the data.

 Example: Used in network packets to detect transmission errors.

14. Explain the Stop and Wait protocol for flow control with a real-life scenario.

o Answer: The sender waits for an acknowledgment before sending the next frame,
ensuring data integrity.

 Example: Simple communica on systems like walkie-talkies use Stop and

Wait to ensure messages are received correctly.

15. Describe the Sliding Window protocol and its types (Go-Back-N, Selec ve Repeat) with
examples.

o Answer:

 Go-Back-N: The sender can send mul ple frames before needing an
acknowledgment but must retransmit all frames a er a lost frame.

 Example: Used in reliable data transfer protocols like TCP.

 Selec ve Repeat: Only the erroneous frames are retransmi ed, improving
efficiency.

 Example: More efficient than Go-Back-N in high-error environments.

16. Discuss the ALOHA protocol and its significance in network communica on with an
example.

o Answer: ALOHA is a simple communica on protocol for wireless networks, allowing

devices to transmit data whenever they have data to send.

 Example: Early satellite communica on systems used ALOHA to manage data

transmission.

17. Explain the CSMA/CD protocol and its applica on in Ethernet networks with a real-life
example.
 o Answer: CSMA/CD helps in collision detec on and resolu on in Ethernet networks.
Devices listen for a clear channel before transmi ng and stop if a collision is
detected.

 Example: Ensures efficient data transmission in wired networks like office

LANs.

18. Describe the IEEE 802.3 standard and its importance with an example.

o Answer: IEEE 802.3 defines the standards for Ethernet networks, ensuring
interoperability between different network devices.

 Example: Ethernet standards for wired networks, allowing devices from

different manufacturers to communicate.

19. Discuss the role of MAC sub-layer protocols in network communica on with examples.

o Answer: MAC protocols manage access to the physical transmission medium,

ensuring efficient and collision-free data transmission.

 Example: CSMA/CD in Ethernet networks and CSMA/CA in Wi-Fi networks.

20. Explain the concept of error detec on codes and their importance with examples.

o Answer: Error detec on codes iden fy errors in transmi ed data, ensuring data
integrity.

 Example: Parity bits used in simple error detec on